Bishops, ulama to help in peace process

MANILA, Philippines — Catholic and Protestant bishops and Muslim ulama (scholars) will play an active role in promoting community and sectoral dialogues to pursue the peace process in Mindanao. The Bishops Ulama Conference stressed this in a statement at the end of their 35th General Assembly in Jolo, Sulu last Friday. "We are tapping the resources of our social, religious and academic institutions to help in assessing people's perception of our situation, in drawing out a common vision of peace, in enriching peace education, and in generating new ideas on the broader peace process in our beloved Mindanao," it said in an article posted Saturday noon on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines website (www.cbcpnews.com). Also, the BUC said it will make use of dialogues "to expand the constituency of peace beyond, but not neglectful of the gains from, the formal peace talks." But it also appealed to the government and civil society to assist the people of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in their existing initiatives and other needs that further peace and development. "As we make this statement, we are not blind to the many economic and social concerns of the people of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, who simply dream of farm-to-market roads, books and classrooms for their children, and other basic services," it said. The bishops and ulama said that as they continue with their interfaith activities they will also pursue authentic interfaith dialogues among their communities. "We hope that through this open communication, we will find a way to face our own share in the prolonged problem in Mindanao as well discover how we could go beyond our hurts and biases. Perhaps this holds a key to more creative solutions to the impasse in our peace process," it said. Around 85 participants including consultants, observers, and media led by BUC co-convenors Archbishop Fernando Capalla, UCCP Bishop-Emeritus Hilario Gomez Jr., and Ulama League of the Philippines President Aleem Aboali Cali attended the historical gathering in Jolo, Sulu last November 18-21. The bishops and ulama also called for an end to kidnapping not only in the province of Sulu but also Mindanao in general. - GMANews.TV